lets see your Lotus(s)!
Discussion
Breadvan72 said:
Purple Europa Twincam in Silverstone auction 23 May - guide price 25K. I cannot afford it! Horrid Barry chin spoiler fitted - that can easily be binned.
I saw that, I'd absolutely love it. No auto, no bueno though 
I must be one of the few people in the world that's hoping the next Elise (if there is one) will have an auto box option
I am sorry - I did not intend any insensitivity. Is there are way you could convert a manual car to use a hand control? - a friend of mine has that on her modern car, IIRC.
I add that the gear change on a Europa TC and Special lets the car down. The gearbox is by Renault and is OK, but the long linkages make for balky and sometimes missed gear changes. Thus you can get binned off on a roundabout by a Mark 1 Escort with its very fine Ford gearbox, as used in some Elans. You will, however, kick the Escort's butt on a twisty B road.
I add that the gear change on a Europa TC and Special lets the car down. The gearbox is by Renault and is OK, but the long linkages make for balky and sometimes missed gear changes. Thus you can get binned off on a roundabout by a Mark 1 Escort with its very fine Ford gearbox, as used in some Elans. You will, however, kick the Escort's butt on a twisty B road.
Edited by Breadvan72 on Tuesday 19th May 11:02
Breadvan72 said:
I am sorry - I did not intend any insensitivity. Is there are way you could convert a manual car to use a hand control? - a friend of mine has that on her modern car, IIRC.
I add that the gear change on a Europa TC and Special lets the car down. The gearbox is by Renault and is OK, but the long linkages make for balky and sometimes missed gear changes. Thus you can get binned off on a roundabout by a Mark 1 Escort with its very fine Ford gearbox, as used in some Elans. You will, hover, kick the Escort's butt on a twisty B road.
Don't worry, I didn't take any offence! I add that the gear change on a Europa TC and Special lets the car down. The gearbox is by Renault and is OK, but the long linkages make for balky and sometimes missed gear changes. Thus you can get binned off on a roundabout by a Mark 1 Escort with its very fine Ford gearbox, as used in some Elans. You will, hover, kick the Escort's butt on a twisty B road.
It's the endless issue with classics for me, and it's very frustrating, but such is life. A very first world problem to have really, and as Lotus put the Camry auto in the Exige and my Evora it's not stopped me from owning a Lotus completely.
Adapted manual is no go. It's technically possible, and more so if the car can have a sequential dog box fitted, so you only have to use the clutch to stop and start, but I wouldn't be comfortable using it on the public road, the likelyhood of running out of limbs and hitting the brakes a second too late is high and I'm not comfortable with that.
Likewise driving with my prosthetics, it's possible and some of the military guys do it, but I'm not comfortable with not being able to clearly feel where my foot is if I needed to stamp on the brake suddenly.
Europa's are interesting to me because they're cheap enough to consider a realistic, DIY resto-mod. A modern engine and DCT or even just a modern slushbox in a Europa chassis? That could be very good, as long as your engine and gearbox are a similar weight and same position as the originals...
Banks Europa developed a Smart Europa. It was semi automatic.
An old link so no idea it it was developed further.
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/smart_europa.htm
An old link so no idea it it was developed further.
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/smart_europa.htm
Took delivery of this yesterday, bought unseen other than a couple of videos & lots of photos and research.
It is (in case you hadn't guessed) VERY modified, running around 240bhp at the flywheel.
Many things to sort, first priority is get an MOT, the will mean a few jobs.
Fixing RH headlight, may be a bulb, may be more.
Sorting handbrake, quite frankly, like most Elans, it is abysmal, needs a caliper strip & service.
Fixing some loose interior trim (door cards)
Sorting the fact that you can take the keys out & walk away and the engine will still run, you have to stall in, suspect it's the ignition relay or ignition switch.
Further down the line once it's MOT'd it can be a running esoration, will need:-
Sort out the occasional overboost - possibly needs wastegate porting or may be as a result of a 2.5" exhaust
Fix the erroneous readings from the fuel gauge
Fix the intermittent speedometer
Sort the hood seals
Strip, lube & reassemble the side window mechanism as they are slow.
Re-upholster seats
Source a glove box
Source some front arch liners
Fix/replace stereo
Sort orange pealy paint
It is (in case you hadn't guessed) VERY modified, running around 240bhp at the flywheel.
Many things to sort, first priority is get an MOT, the will mean a few jobs.
Fixing RH headlight, may be a bulb, may be more.
Sorting handbrake, quite frankly, like most Elans, it is abysmal, needs a caliper strip & service.
Fixing some loose interior trim (door cards)
Sorting the fact that you can take the keys out & walk away and the engine will still run, you have to stall in, suspect it's the ignition relay or ignition switch.
Further down the line once it's MOT'd it can be a running esoration, will need:-
Sort out the occasional overboost - possibly needs wastegate porting or may be as a result of a 2.5" exhaust
Fix the erroneous readings from the fuel gauge
Fix the intermittent speedometer
Sort the hood seals
Strip, lube & reassemble the side window mechanism as they are slow.
Re-upholster seats
Source a glove box
Source some front arch liners
Fix/replace stereo
Sort orange pealy paint
Edited by CallMeLegend on Sunday 31st May 18:57
Top of Hartside Pass on Monday - we swapped cars from Langwatby to the top so I got to drive an Alpine for the first time and my pal the Evora.
We each liked them; my pal thought the Evora had better steering feel and he also enjoyed the manual. I thought the A110 felt very light, quick and nimble but I would need a few more drives to get used to the paddles.
Overall the conclusion was the A110 felt digital and the Evora more analogue.
We each liked them; my pal thought the Evora had better steering feel and he also enjoyed the manual. I thought the A110 felt very light, quick and nimble but I would need a few more drives to get used to the paddles.
Overall the conclusion was the A110 felt digital and the Evora more analogue.
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